IPTV start speed enhancement

ABSTRACT

An Internet audio video device receives a command to power up from a standby mode. This causes the device to start a boot process, and while the boot process proceeds. The process determines a next content selection from a usage pattern database. The Internet audio video device is set to the retrieved settings. At completion of the boot process the audio video device is operational at the retrieved settings. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED DOCUMENTS

This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/086,017 filed Nov. 21, 2013 which is a continuation of Ser. No.13/941,857 filed Jul. 15, 2013, which is a divisional application ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/418,583, filed Mar. 13, 2012 (nowU.S. Pat. No. 8,531,612 issued Sep. 10, 2013), each of which are herebyincorporated herein by reference.

COPYRIGHT AND TRADEMARK NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction of the patent document or thepatent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Officepatent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rightswhatsoever. Trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

BACKGROUND

When a television receiver device is turned off via a remote controller,it is generally only placed in a lower power consumption standby mode inwhich the remote control receiver remains active and several otherfunctions such as a real-time clock may remain active. However, userscommonly refer to this state as “off” despite the power consumption notactually being zero.

Due to the increasing complexity of television (TV) sets, the startuptime for a user to get from the off (standby) state to a desired channeland/or input (including boot time and time to navigate to the desiredchannel and input) has increased. Prior generations of television setsoften utilized embedded assembler and other techniques to control the TVprocessor that operated very quickly resulting in a quick boot up time.However, the complexity of current and future generations of televisionsets makes use of such techniques unmanageable. As a result, TV sets arenow being developed to utilize a Linux kernel and higher levelprogramming in order to implement the many complex features of atelevision. This in turn makes advanced features easier to implement,but unfortunately results in the TV not being fully responsive forseveral minutes. The problem is compounded with digital TV which notonly requires a tuner to tune to a particular frequency, but alsorequires filtering by packet identifier to obtain the proper data streamfor a major and minor channel, and audio and video decoding of thechannel's data stream to begin before a channel actually appears tunedto the user. Hence, a user could actuate the power switch and not beable to actually view a desired channel or input for several minutes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Certain illustrative embodiments illustrating organization and method ofoperation, together with objects and advantages may be best understoodby reference detailed description that follows taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an example simplified block diagram of a television receiverdevice consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an example process depicted in flow chart form for animplementation consistent with certain embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is an example process depicted in flow chart form for animplementation consistent with certain embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is an example process depicted in flow chart form of anotherimplementation consistent with certain embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is an example process depicted in flow chart form of anotherimplementation consistent with certain embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is an example of a block diagram of an Internet enabledtelevision consistent with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 7 depicts a flow chart of an example process for entering a standbyconfiguration in the example system 600 in a manner consistent with thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 is an example of a process for turn on of system 600 in a mannerconsistent with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many differentforms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described indetail specific embodiments, with the understanding that the presentdisclosure of such embodiments is to be considered as an example of theprinciples and not intended to limit the invention to the specificembodiments shown and described. In the description below, likereference numerals are used to describe the same, similar orcorresponding parts in the several views of the drawings.

The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or more thanone. The term “plurality”, as used herein, is defined as two or morethan two. The term “another”, as used herein, is defined as at least asecond or more. The terms “including” and/or “having”, as used herein,are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled”, asused herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly,and not necessarily mechanically. The term “program” or “computerprogram” or similar terms, as used herein, is defined as a sequence ofinstructions designed for execution on a computer system. A “program”,or “computer program”, may include a subroutine, a function, aprocedure, an object method, an object implementation, in an executableapplication, an app, an applet, a servlet, a source code, an objectcode, a shared library/dynamic load library and/or other sequence ofinstructions designed for execution on a computer system. The term“processor”, “controller”, “CPU”, “Computer” and the like as used hereinencompasses both hard programmed, special purpose, general purpose andprogrammable devices and may encompass a plurality of such devices or asingle device in either a distributed or centralized configurationwithout limitation.

The term “program”, as used herein, may also be used in a second context(the above definition being for the first context). In the secondcontext, the term is used in the sense of a “television program” or“show”. In this context, the term is used to mean any coherent sequenceof audio video content such as those which would be interpreted as andreported in an electronic program guide (EPG) as a single televisionprogram, without regard for whether the content is a movie, sportingevent, segment of a multi-part series, news broadcast, etc. The term mayalso be interpreted to encompass commercial spots and other program-likecontent which may not be reported as a program in an electronic programguide.

Reference throughout this document to “one embodiment”, “certainembodiments”, “an embodiment”, “an example”, “an implementation” orsimilar terms means that a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with the embodiment, example orimplementation is included in at least one embodiment, example orimplementation of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of suchphrases or in various places throughout this specification are notnecessarily all referring to the same embodiment, example orimplementation. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, orcharacteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments, examples or implementations without limitation.

The term “or” as used herein is to be interpreted as an inclusive ormeaning any one or any combination. Therefore, “A, B or C” means “any ofthe following: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B and C”. Anexception to this definition will occur only when a combination ofelements, functions, steps or acts are in some way inherently mutuallyexclusive.

As previously noted, when a television receiver device is turned off viaa remote controller, it is generally only placed in a lower powerconsumption standby mode in which the remote control receiver remainsactive and several other functions such as a real-time clock may remainactive. However, users commonly refer to this state as “off” despite thepower consumption not actually being zero. For purposes of thisdocument, the terms “off” and “standby” may be used somewhatsynonymously unless the context makes it clear that one actual state orthe other is intended.

Due to the increasing complexity of television (TV) sets, the startuptime for a user to get from the off (standby) state to a desired channeland/or input (including boot time and time to navigate to the desiredchannel and input) has increased. Prior generations of television setsoften utilized embedded assembler and other techniques to control the TVprocessor that operated very quickly resulting in a quick boot up time.However, the complexity of current and future generations of televisionsets makes use of such techniques unmanageable. As a result, TV sets arenow being developed to utilize a Linux kernel and higher levelprogramming in order to implement the many complex features of atelevision. This in turn makes advanced features easier to implement,but unfortunately results in the TV not being fully responsive forseveral minutes. The problem is compounded with digital TV which notonly requires a tuner to tune to a particular frequency, but alsorequires filtering by packet identifier to obtain the proper data streamfor a major and minor channel, and audio and video decoding of thechannel's data stream to begin before a channel actually appears tunedto the user. For purposes of this document, all actions needed to placethe TV in a state capable of tuning and filtering and decoding aselected channel is considered “tuning”. Hence, a user could actuate thepower switch and not be able to actually view a desired channel or inputfor several minutes.

This problem can be ameliorated by recognizing that a TV user's usagepattern is often quite simple. For example, in the evening the user mayoften watch a movie or a late news cast. In the morning the user willoften watch the same news program every morning on the same channel. Inaccord with certain implementations, this usage pattern can be utilizedto shorten the time to get the user to a useful mode of the televisionset. The TV can remember the typical morning usage state and when the TVis turned off in the evening, it knows that it will likely be tuned tothe same state that was used that morning (or a corresponding morning ofthe week). Hence when the TV is turned on in the morning, before it hasfully booted and is responsive to the user commands, the TV couldalready be tuned to the desired input source, either by pre-tuning or bytuning as soon as the tuner is powered up. The user would not have towait for the set to finish booting nor wait for the user's inputcommands since the TV will power up in the state most often desired bythe user.

Thus, in accord with certain implementations, a television receives acommand to power up from a standby mode. This causes the TV to start aboot process, and while the boot process proceeds. At a that a point inthe boot process when the tuner input switch are operative the processsimultaneously determines a current time from a real time clock andretrieves a channel and a switch setting from a usage pattern databasecorresponding to the current time. The tuner is tuned to the channel andthe input switch is set. At completion of the boot process the tuner isalready tuned to the channel and the input switch is set to the switchsetting corresponding the current time so that time to viewing a desiredchannel is often minimized. The state used to set the input switch andthe tuner can be based on the time of day or both time of day and theday of the week.

In the present discussion, a television set is used as an example,however, embodiments consistent with the present invention may beimplemented using other television receiver devices such as set topboxes, Internet appliances and other devices that do not directlyincorporate a display without departing from implementations consistentwith the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a simplified block diagram of a televisionreceiver device, such as a television set, is depicted as 100. Thisdepiction is simplified in that all communication is shown as beingcarried out through a single bus 104, whereas in a typical televisionreceiver device multiple buses or direct interconnections of variouscomponents may be more advantageous. The operation of the system iscontrolled by a central processor or multiple central processors 108that interface via the bus to memory and storage 112, which can be anycombination of suitable storage devices, such as random access memory(RAM), read only memory (ROM), flash memory, and disc storage, forexample. In this example embodiment, the memory 112 includes operatingsystem and boot control routines 116, as well as program and systeminformation protocol (PSIP) tables 120, a user profile database and ausage pattern database 124, the functions of which will be discussedlater. A television receiver and tuner circuitry 128 provides forreceipt of radiofrequency or Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) programmingdepending up on the configuration of input switches 132, which controlthe source of content being received by television 100. For digitalprogramming, packet identifier (PID) filters and decoders 136 areutilized to tune to an incoming transport stream carried on a particularfrequency and to extract the relevant segments of that transport streamcorresponding to a particular television channel to be tuned.

Once the digital television signal is decoded, the decoded video is sentto a display interface 140 for display on a display panel 144, while theaudio is decoded and sent to an audio system 148 for conversion toaudible sounds. A real time clock 152 is provided for keeping track ofcurrent time, as well as day of the week and date, etc. A remote controlinterface and radio interfaces 156 receive signals from a remotecontroller 160 in order to implement user commands at the television100. Interfaces 156 can also include an interface for receiving Blutoothsignals or WiFi signals. Such commands can include commands to power thetelevision on to a normal operational state or to power the televisiondown to what is commonly considered “off”, but in reality is a low powerstandby mode in which the remote control interface 156 remains active soas to be able to receive power on signals from the remote controller160, and real time clock 152 is also maintained in an active state so asto continue to keep accurate time. Other components of the system may beplaced in a standby, off, or low power state as dictated by the needs tokeep various systems active or by the lack of such need.

In certain implementations, the digital television receiver can alsoinclude a camera and facial recognition programming in order torecognize viewers and access the user profile database 122 based on arecognized viewer. Similarly, a viewer can be recognized by presence ofa Bluetooth or WiFi identifier emitted to/from a cellular telephoneassociated with a particular user. This information can also be used tolink with a user profile in database 122. Similarly, input of a useridentifier code on the remote controller 160 or receipt of another typebiometric data identifying a particular user for association with theuser profile database can be implemented, e.g., using a fingerprintreader on the remote control. Other variations will occur to thoseskilled in the art upon consideration of the present teachings.

The usage pattern database can directly store frequency and sets ofpacket identifiers (PIDs) corresponding to a particular channel to betuned so that the tuning process does not depend directly upon theprogram and system information (PSIP) tables (e.g., the program maptable PMT and program association table PAT). In this case, the time ortime and day of the week is mapped directly to the data needed to tunethe tuner and set the input switch. Alternatively, the usage patterndatabase can point to data in the PSIP tables that store the particularsof frequency and PID sets used to find and decode the channel for agiven time or time and day of the week. Further, the usage pattern maybe individualized for any particular user or group of users identifiedby a profile in database 122.

In accordance with one implementation consistent with embodiments of thepresent invention, a process 200 as shown in FIG. 2 can be utilizedwherein the television is in the standby mode 204 awaiting a power oncommand at 208. So long as a power on command is not received, thetelevision remains in the standby mode at 212 and 204, and the processawaits receipt of a power on command. Upon receipt of such power oncommand, the television's boot process begins at 216. The boot processspans the functions shown in the bracketed area 220 including allfunctions which are normally required to get the TV into a fullyoperational state and get the TV 100 and processor 108 “booted”. Inaccord with this embodiment, at some point in the boot process, thetuner and input switch are placed in an active state at 224. Once thetuner and input switch are in this active state at 224, the process neednot await full booting of the system. A parallel process is carried outwhere in the current time and day of the week are retrieved at 228 fromreal time clock 152. Once the time and day are known at 228, a usagepattern can be retrieved at 232 from the usage pattern database 124. Incertain implementations, this usage pattern may be individualized for aparticular detected user as profiled in database 122. This usage patternmay include input switch setting and tuner settings as well as otherattributes such as volume at a particular time and day as will bediscussed later. Once this information is known at 232, the processproceeds to 236 where a determination is made as to whether or not theinput needs to be switched. If not, control passes to 240, but if aswitch operation needs to be carried out on the input switch, then theinput switch is switched at 244. Control then passes from 244 to 240where a determination is made as to whether a new channel is to beselected. This channel is then selected at 240, and the tuner is tunedto this channel at 248.

In the above process, the usage pattern database 124 is used todetermine what channel and what input switch setting a particular userwould normally utilize at a particular time of day or a particular timeof a particular day of the week. Usage patterns are generally rathersimple as discussed above, so prediction of a channel that a user willdesire at a particular time and day of the week is relatively reliablein most instances. However, in the event the TV is turned on at a timeof day that does not correspond to any known usage pattern, theprocessor can refer to the Electronic Programming Guide's (EPG's)recording schedule and if a program has been scheduled for recording,the TV can switch channels and inputs to the channel being recordedautomatically. Multiple viewing patterns for multiple identified usersmay be reconciled by group profiles or by a priority for each user. Ifthere is no other resort, the last channel tuned can be used. Othervariations will occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration ofthese teachings.

Once this information is known, the process from 228 to 248 can becarried out in parallel with the booting process 220 so that the userdoes not have to await sequential tuning and boot operations only tohave to subsequently retune the tuner. The tuner in effect will be tunedto a likely channel for the particular time of day and day of the week,as determined by 228. If no tuning is necessary at 240 or if the tuneris tuned at 248, full control turns back to the boot process at whateverstage it is in leaving the tuner and input switches set to a likelysetting for the particular user's usage pattern. Meanwhile, process 220proceeds through carrying out other boot operations until the end of theboot process is reached at 256. Once the end of the boot process isreached, normal operation of the television can proceed at 260 and thetelevision will begin operation in the mode of being tuned to the mostcommon tuned channel via the most common input for a particular time ofday and day of week. It is noted that in certain implementations normalTV operation at 260 may include viewer detection using biometrics asdescribed earlier.

In order to carry out the operation just described, a usage patterndatabase 124 is maintained, as described in the process 300 of FIG. 3.In certain implementations, the usage pattern database 124 can be basedonly on time and day, while other implementations can also utilize anysuitable mechanism for detecting an actual viewer and the usage patterndatabase 124 can be individualized for particular users or groups ofusers. During normal television operation at 260, whenever an input isswitched at 302, the date (day of week) and time is retrieved from thereal time clock 152 at 306. If a switch setting is to be changed, suchchange is implemented at 310, then the switch change is logged to usagepattern database 124 at 314 (possibly along with the identity of a knownuser stored in the user profile database). In a similar manner, when thetuner is changed to change channels at 318, the date and time areretrieved at 322 from real time clock 152, and the tuner is tuned at326. This change in tuner setting is logged to the database at 330 andcontrol returns to normal TV operation at 260 with the tuner and/orswitch having been set to a new setting. If the input switch is notswitched at 302 and the tuner is not adjusted at 318, control alsoreturns to 260 to await such changes and possibly monitor vieweridentities. It is also noted that the usage pattern database 124 incertain implementations may be modified manually via manual input duringany time of operation to the television set at 336.

When utilizing any of the techniques disclosed herein, it is alsopossible to record a volume setting in the usage pattern database foruse when pre-tuning to a particular input or channel. This permits theTV to not only adjust the channel and input setting of the TV to achannel or input that is consistent with the TV's usage pattern, butalso to adjust the audio volume accordingly. In this manner, it ispossible to automatically compensate for variations in audio fromchannel to channel, input to input, and listener preference. This changein volume setting can be implemented upon changing the switch setting at310 and/or tuning the tuner at 326 in process 300 or in a decision loopprocess similar to that disclosed in connection with the input switchadjustment or tuner adjustment as depicted in process 300.

Referring now to FIG. 4, an alternative implementation 400 is depictedwherein rather than parallel processing the tuner and input switchsetting during the boot process, the tuner and input switch arepreloaded with appropriate channel and switch settings upon power downof the television set to a standby mode. In accordance with thisimplementation, during normal TV operation at 260 if an off command isreceived (bearing in mind that off command generally takes thetelevision to a standby mode) at 470, the processor or processorsretrieve tuner and switch state information from the usage patterndatabase 124 after retrieving the current time from the real time clock152 at 474. The information retrieved, however, is for the anticipatednext turn-on time (and possibly for a predicted viewer with theprediction based on a particular user's viewing patterns) for thetelevision set. This can be deduced from the current time, and the usagepattern database, which should accurately predict for the most partbased on the viewers' usage patterns and monitoring the usage patternsof particular identified viewers as identified in the user profiledatabase 122, what time, channel, and input will be used when thetelevision is next turned on. Based on this information, the tuner ispre-tuned at 478, and the input switch is pre-switched at 482 beforepower is completely taken to the standby state at 486. This can also beimplemented by preloading the information on channel and switch settingand the actual tuning and switch changes can take place in parallel withthe boot process when the TV is turned on.

It is also possible to automatically compensate for variations in audiofrom channel to channel, input to input, viewer to viewer, and listenerpreference in the present implementation. This change in volume settingcan be implemented upon pre-tuning the tuner at 478 and/or changing theswitch setting at 482 in process 400 or in a separate sequentialfunction (not shown) similar to that disclosed in connection with theinput switch adjustment or tuner adjustment as depicted in process 400.

Referring now to FIG. 5, process 500 begins with the television in thestandby mode 204. When a power on command is received at 506, the bootprocess starts at 510. If no power on command is received at 506, thetelevision remains in the standby state at 516 awaiting receipt of thepower on command. Once the boot process begins at 510, the processextends through the actions depicted as 520. During this boot process at524, the tuner and input switch are activated using the pre-tuned andpre-switched states discussed in connection with process 400 andpossibly including audio volume settings or other TV attributes. Whenthe boot process completes at 530, normal TV operation begins at 260 onthe channel and input determined by the pre-tuning at 478 andpre-switching at 482 as well as possibly pre-setting the audio volume orother television attributes. At 260, if the actual viewer is not thesame as the predicted viewer, the tuner and input switches can bechanged automatically based on detection of an actual viewer or group ofviewers or the viewer can manually change the signal. In this manner,the TV begins operation in a state that is predicted with relativelyhigh confidence to be the state that the user is likely to desire basedon day of week and time of day. The tuning of the tuner involves bothselection of a frequency and selection of packet identifiers (PIDs) usedto tune to the correct frequency and to filter the correct PIDs used toextract a particular program from the transport stream.

While the above discussion focuses on digital television content such asthat supplied by broadcasters and cable or satellite operators, InternetProtocol television can benefit from the present teachings also. Asnoted above, IPTV can be one form of programming accessed by selectionof specified input switches 132. In addition, a network interfaceinternal or external to a television set can be utilized to obtaincontent for programming that is routinely retrieved by a user underspecified circumstances such as time, date or other conditions that canbe characterized in the usage database.

FIG. 6 depicts an IPTV television receiver device such as a TV set 600that is similar to that depicted in 100. However, it is noted that allof the functionality depicted in 600 is not needed for an IPTV receiverand in embodiments consistent with the present teachings, a tuner, TVreceiver, etc. and even the display 144 and display interface 140 may beomitted for Internet appliances consistent with the present teachings.In this particular implementation example, a network interface 604 isprovided which interfaces with the Internet 608 in order to retrievecontent such as streaming content from an A/V streaming source 612 viathe Internet. In this case, a browser and/or media player computerprogram stored in memory 112 can be utilized to address the particularcontent to be streamed with the usage pattern indicates that suchstreamed programming is to be played.

FIG. 7 depicts a flow chart of an example process for entering a standbyconfiguration in this example of system 600. In this illustrativeexample, during normal IPTV or other TV operation at 760 if an offcommand is received (bearing in mind that off command generally takesthe television or other Internet appliance to a standby mode) at 470,then the processor or processors retrieve a URL or URI or other form ofInternet addressing and potentially a switch state information from theusage pattern database 124 for the next anticipated event. Such ananticipated event may be based upon a time and a time reference from thereal time clock 152 as well as possibly a predicted user from userprofile database 122 at 774 representing a user's usage patterns. Inother examples, an event may be that the user is watching a series ofcontent (e.g., a television or educational series that is streamed froma service provider) and can presume that the user will wish to watch thenext program in the series. The information retrieved, however, is forthe anticipated next turn-on of the IPTV device. This can be deduced,for example, from the current time, and the usage pattern database,which should accurately predict for the most part, based on the viewers'usage patterns, what time, IP address, etc. will be associated with thenext IPTV event (i.e., the next turn-on). User identification can becarried out as previously described using various biometrics tocorrelate a viewer to his or her user profile.

Based on this information, the Internet address is pre-fetched at 778and pre-loaded into the Browser/player 620, and the input switch ispre-switched at 482 if needed before power is completely taken to thestandby state at 486. This can also be implemented by preloading theinformation on IP address and switch setting and the actual retrieval ofthe IP address can take place at the earliest point in the boot processin which the browser/player can be made operational and hence can takeplace in parallel with a portion of the boot process when the IPTVdevice is turned on.

It is also possible to automatically compensate for variations in audiofrom channel to channel, input to input, and listener preference in thepresent implementation. This change in volume setting can be implementedupon pre-loading the browser/player at 778 and/or changing the switchsetting at 482 in process 700 or in a separate sequential function (notshown) similar to that disclosed in connection with the input switchadjustment or tuner adjustment as depicted in process 700.

FIG. 8 is an example of a process 800 for turn on of system 600 in amanner consistent with the present invention. Process 800 begins withthe television in the standby mode 204. When a power on command isreceived at 506, the boot process starts at 510. If no power on commandis received at 506, the television remains in the standby state at 516awaiting receipt of the power on command. Once the boot process beginsat 510, the process extends through the actions depicted as 820.

During this boot process at 824, the Browser/player and input switch areactivated using the pre-loaded Internet address pre-switched statesdiscussed in connection with process 700 and possibly including audiovolume settings or other IPTV device attributes and further possiblycustomized for a predicted viewer. When the boot process completes at530, normal IPTV operation (possibly including viewer identificationbiometrics processing) begins at 760 at the IP address that has beenpreloaded into the browser/player as well as optionally pre-setting theaudio volume or other IP television attributes. In this manner, the IPTVbegins operation in a state that is predicted with relatively highconfidence to be the state that the user is likely to desire based on aparticular event such as day of week and time of day.

Hence, digital television content such as that supplied by broadcasters,cable or satellite operators, as well as Internet Protocol televisioncan benefit from the present teachings also. As noted above, IPTV can beone form of programming accessed by selection of specified inputswitches 132. In addition, a network interface internal or external to atelevision set or forming the heart of an IPTV or set top box or otherinterface or Internet appliance can be utilized to obtain content forprogramming that is routinely retrieved by a user under specifiedcircumstances such as time, date or other conditions that can becharacterized in the usage database.

Thus, in accord with certain implementations, a method of starting atelevision involves receiving a command to power up the television froma standby mode; starting a television boot process, and while the bootprocess proceeds: determining that a point in the boot process when atelevision tuner is operative and an input switch is operative has beenreached; determining a current time from a real time clock; retrieving achannel and a switch setting from a usage pattern database correspondingto the current time; tuning the tuner to the channel and selecting theswitch setting at an input switch; and completing the boot process sothat at the end of the boot process the tuner is already tuned to thechannel and the input switch is set to the switch setting correspondingthe current time.

A tangible non-transitory computer readable electronic storage mediumstoring instructions which, when executed on one or more programmedprocessors, carry out a method involving starting a television bootprocess, and while the boot process proceeds: determining that a pointin the boot process when a television tuner is operative and an inputswitch is operative has been reached; determining a current time from areal time clock; retrieving a channel and a switch setting from a usagepattern database corresponding to the current time; tuning the tuner tothe channel and selecting the switch setting at an input switch; andcompleting the boot process so that at the end of the boot process thetuner is already tuned to the channel and the input switch is set to theswitch setting corresponding the current time.

A television receiver device has a remote command receiver configured toreceive a command to power up the television receiver device from astandby mode. A memory stores a usage pattern database. A real timeclock, a television tuner device and an input switch are provided. Aprogrammed processor is programmed to: start a television boot process,and while the boot process proceeds: determine that a point in the bootprocess when the television tuner device is operative and the inputswitch is operative has been reached; determine a current time from thereal time clock; retrieve a channel and a switch setting from the usagepattern database corresponding to the current time; tune the tuner tothe channel and selecting the switch setting at an input switch; andcomplete the boot process so that at the end of the boot process thetuner is already tuned to the channel and the input switch is set to theswitch setting corresponding the current time.

In certain implementations, determining the current time furtherinvolves determining a current day of the week. In certainimplementations, retrieving the channel and the switch setting from theusage pattern database further comprises retrieving the channel andswitch setting corresponding to the current time on the current day ofthe week. In certain implementations, the tuning comprises tuning thetuner to a specified frequency and setting packet filters to selectpackets having a specified set of packet identifiers from a transportstream corresponding to the channel. In certain implementations, thespecified frequency and set of packet identifiers is stored in the usagepattern database. In certain implementations, the specified frequencyand set of packet identifiers is stored in program and systeminformation protocol (PSIP) tables that are indexed in the usage patterndatabase. In certain implementations, an audio volume setting isretrieved from the usage pattern database and the audio volume is set toa level determined by the usage pattern database so that at the end ofthe boot process the audio volume is set to a value corresponding thecurrent time. In certain implementations, the channel and switch settingcorrespond to a channel and switch setting for a recording thatcorresponds to the current time. In certain implementations, the nextcontent selection is further based upon a predicted user identified in auser profile database.

Another method of starting a television involves receiving a command topower down the television to a standby mode; prior to fully entering thestandby mode: determining a next time of operation of the televisionfrom a usage pattern database with reference to a real time clock;retrieving a channel and a switch setting from a usage pattern databasecorresponding to the next time of operation of the television;pre-tuning the tuner to the channel and selecting the switch setting atan input switch; and completing entry of the television to the standbymode.

In certain implementations, the a television boot process is started andupon completing the boot process, at the end of the boot process thetuner is already tuned to the channel and the input switch is set to theswitch setting corresponding the next time of operation. In certainimplementations, the process further involves retrieving an audio volumesetting from the usage pattern database and pre-setting the audio volumeto a level determined by the usage pattern database. In certainimplementations, the channel and switch setting correspond to a channeland switch setting for a recording that corresponds to the current time.In certain implementations, the next content selection is further basedupon a predicted user identified in a user profile database.

A tangible non-transitory computer readable electronic storage mediumstoring instructions which, when executed on one or more programmedprocessors, carry out a method that involves starting a power downprocess to power the television to a standby mode; prior to fullyentering the standby mode: determining a next time of operation of thetelevision from a usage pattern database; retrieving a channel and aswitch setting from a usage pattern database corresponding to the nexttime of operation of the television; pre-tuning the tuner to the channeland selecting the switch setting at an input switch; and completingentry of the television to the standby mode.

A television receiver device has a remote command receiver configured toreceive a command to power up the television receiver device from astandby mode. A memory stores a usage pattern database. A real timeclock, a television tuner device, and an input switch are provided. Aprogrammed processor is programmed to: receive a command to power downthe television to a standby mode; prior to fully entering the standbymode: determine a next time of operation of the television from a usagepattern database; retrieve a channel and a switch setting from a usagepattern database corresponding to the next time of operation of thetelevision; pre-tune the tuner to the channel and selecting the switchsetting at an input switch; and complete entry of the television to thestandby mode.

In certain implementations, a television boot process is started andupon completing the boot process the tuner is already tuned to thechannel and the input switch is set to the switch setting correspondingthe next time of operation. In certain implementations, determining thenext time further comprises determining a day of the week. In certainimplementations, retrieving the channel and the switch setting from theusage pattern database further comprises retrieving the channel andswitch setting corresponding to the next time of operation including theday of the week. In certain implementations, the pre-tuning comprisestuning the tuner to a specified frequency and setting packet filters toselect packets having a specified set of packet identifiers from atransport stream corresponding to the channel. In certainimplementations, the specified frequency and set of packet identifiersis stored in the usage pattern database. In certain implementations, thespecified frequency and set of packet identifiers is stored in programand system information protocol (PSIP) tables that are indexed in theusage pattern database. In certain implementations, the processorretrieves an audio volume setting from the usage pattern database andsets the audio volume to a level determined by the usage patterndatabase so that at the end of the boot process the audio volume is setto a value corresponding the current time. In certain implementations,the channel and switch setting correspond to a channel and switchsetting for a recording that corresponds to the current time. In certainimplementations, the next content selection is further based upon apredicted user identified in a user profile database.

A method of operating an Internet Protocol (IP) audio video deviceinvolves receiving a command to power down the IP audio video device toa standby mode; prior to fully entering the standby mode: determining anext content selection for operation of the Internet audio video devicefrom a usage pattern database; retrieving an Internet address for theInternet audio video device from the usage pattern databasecorresponding to the next content selection for operation of theInternet audio video device; setting the Internet audio video device forthe retrieved settings; and completing entry of the Internet audio videodevice into the standby mode.

In certain implementations, the method further involves starting anInternet audio video device boot process; and completing the bootprocess so that at the end of the boot process the Internet audio videodevice is set for the retrieved settings corresponding to the nextcontent selection. In certain implementations, determining a nextcontent selection involves determining a next time of operation. Incertain implementations, retrieving the settings from the usage patterndatabase involves retrieving a switch setting corresponding to the nextcontent selection. In certain implementations, the process furtherinvolves retrieving an audio volume setting from the usage patterndatabase and pre-setting the audio volume to a level determined by theusage pattern database. In certain implementations, the next contentselection comprises a next program in a series of programs. In certainimplementations, setting the audio video device for the retrievedsettings involves setting the audio video device to receive streamingaudio and video from a streaming source. In certain implementations,setting the Internet audio video device for the retrieved settingscomprises pre-loading a browser with the Internet address. In certainimplementations, the next content selection is further based upon apredicted user identified in a user profile database.

A tangible non-transitory computer readable electronic storage mediumstoring instructions which, when executed on one or more programmedprocessors, carry out a method involving starting a power down processto power an audio video device to a standby mode; prior to fullyentering the standby mode: determining a next content selection foroperation of the Internet audio video device from a usage patterndatabase; retrieving an Internet address for the Internet audio videodevice from the usage pattern database corresponding to the next contentselection for operation of the Internet audio video device; setting theInternet audio video device for the retrieved settings; and completingentry of the Internet audio video device into the standby mode.

In certain implementations, the instructions further include starting anInternet audio video device boot process; and completing the bootprocess so that at the end of the boot process the Internet audio videodevice is set for the retrieved settings corresponding to the nextcontent selection. In certain implementations, determining a nextcontent selection comprises determining a next time of operation. Incertain implementations, retrieving the settings from the usage patterndatabase further includes retrieving a switch setting corresponding tothe next content selection. In certain implementations, setting theInternet audio video device for the retrieved settings includes settingthe Internet audio video device to receive streaming data identified inthe usage pattern database. In certain implementations, the instructionsfurther include retrieving an audio volume setting from the usagepattern database and pre-setting the audio volume to a level determinedby the usage pattern database. In certain implementations, the nextcontent selection comprises a next program in a series of programs. Incertain implementations, the next content selection is further basedupon a predicted user identified in a user profile database.

An Internet audio video device has a remote command receiver configuredto receive a command to power up the Internet audio video device from astandby mode. A memory stores a usage pattern database and an inputswitch is provided. A programmed processor is programmed to receive acommand to power down the Internet audio video device to a standby mode;prior to fully entering the standby mode: determine a next contentselection for operation of the Internet audio video device from a usagepattern database; retrieve an Internet address for the Internet audiovideo device from the usage pattern database corresponding to the nextcontent selection for operation of the Internet audio video device; setthe Internet audio video device for the retrieved settings; and completeentry of the Internet audio video device into the standby mode.

In certain implementations, the programmed processor is furtherprogrammed to: start an Internet audio video device boot process; andcomplete the boot process so that at the end of the boot process theInternet audio video device is set for the retrieved settingscorresponding to the next content selection. In certain implementations,a clock is provided and a next content selection is determined by a nexttime of operation. In certain implementations, retrieving the settingsfrom the usage pattern database further involves retrieving a switchsetting corresponding to the next content selection. In certainimplementations, the processor is configured to retrieve an audio volumesetting from the usage pattern database and set the audio volume to alevel determined by the usage pattern database so that at the end of theboot process the audio volume is set to a value corresponding the nextcontent selection. In certain implementations, setting the Internetaudio video device for the retrieved settings involves setting the audiovideo device to receive streaming audio and video from a streamingsource. In certain implementations, setting the Internet audio videodevice for the retrieved settings involves pre-loading a browser withthe Internet address. In certain implementations, the next contentselection can be a next program in a series of programs. In certainimplementations, the next content selection is further based upon apredicted user identified in a user profile database.

An Internet audio video device receives a command to power up from astandby mode. This causes the device to start a boot process, and whilethe boot process proceeds. The process determines a next contentselection from a usage pattern database. The Internet audio video deviceis set to the retrieved settings. At completion of the boot process theaudio video device is operational at the retrieved settings. In certainimplementations, the next content selection is further based upon apredicted user identified in a user profile database.

Those skilled in the art will recognize, upon consideration of the aboveteachings, that certain of the above exemplary embodiments are basedupon use of a programmed processor. However, the invention is notlimited to such exemplary embodiments, since other embodiments could beimplemented using hardware component equivalents such as special purposehardware and/or dedicated processors. Similarly, general purposecomputers, microprocessor based computers, micro-controllers, opticalcomputers, analog computers, dedicated processors, application specificcircuits and/or dedicated hard wired logic may be used to constructalternative equivalent embodiments.

Certain embodiments described herein, are or may be implemented using aprogrammed processor executing programming instructions that are broadlydescribed above in flow chart form that can be stored on any suitableelectronic or computer readable storage medium including non-transitorystorage media, where the term non-transitory is intended only topreclude propagating waves and not storage that can be rewritten orstorage that loses its stored information when power is removed.However, those skilled in the art will appreciate, upon consideration ofthe present teaching, that the processes described above can beimplemented in any number of variations and in many suitable programminglanguages without departing from embodiments of the present invention.For example, the order of certain operations carried out can often bevaried, additional operations can be added or operations can be deletedwithout departing from certain embodiments of the invention. Errortrapping can be added and/or enhanced and variations can be made in userinterface and information presentation without departing from certainembodiments of the present invention. Such variations are contemplatedand considered equivalent.

While certain illustrative embodiments have been described, it isevident that many alternatives, modifications, permutations andvariations will become apparent to those skilled in the art in light ofthe foregoing description.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of operating an internet protocol (IP)audio video device, comprising: receiving a command to power down the IPaudio video device to a standby mode; responsive to receiving the powerdown command and prior to fully entering the standby mode: determining anext anticipated time of power on operation of the internet audio videodevice from a usage pattern database and a next content selectioncorresponding to the next anticipated time of power on operation of theinternet audio video device from the usage pattern database; retrievingsettings for the IP audio video device from the usage pattern databasecorresponding to the next content selection and the next anticipatedtime of power on operation of the IP audio video device, wherein theretrieved settings include an indication of a source of the next contentselection, wherein the indication of the source comprises an internetaddress for the next content selection; setting the IP audio videodevice for the retrieved settings; and fully entering the IP audio videodevice into standby mode applying the retrieved settings.
 2. The methodaccording to claim 1, where retrieving the settings from the usagepattern database further comprises retrieving a switch settingcorresponding to the next content selection.
 3. The method according toclaim 1, further comprising retrieving an audio volume setting from theusage pattern database and pre-setting the audio volume to a leveldetermined by the usage pattern database.
 4. The method according toclaim 1, where the next content selection comprises a next program in aseries of programs.
 5. The method according to claim 1, where settingthe audio video device for the retrieved settings comprises setting theaudio video device to receive streaming audio and video from a streamingsource.
 6. The method according to claim 1, where setting the Internetaudio video device for the retrieved settings comprises pre-loading abrowser with the Internet address.
 7. The method according to claim 1,where the next content selection is further based upon a predicted useridentified in a user profile database.
 8. A computer medium that is nota transitory signal and storing instructions which, when executed on oneor more programmed processors, carry out a method comprising: starting apower down process to power an Internet audio video device to a standbymode; responsive to starting the power down process and prior to fullyentering the standby mode: determining a next anticipated time of poweron operation of the Internet audio video device from a usage patterndatabase and a next content selection corresponding to the nextanticipated time of power on operation of the internet audio videodevice from the usage pattern database; retrieving settings for theInternet audio video device from the usage pattern databasecorresponding to the next content selection and the next anticipatedtime of power on operation of the Internet audio video device, whereinthe retrieved settings include an indication of a source of the nextcontent selection, wherein the indication of the source comprises aninternet address for the next content selection; setting the internetaudio video device for the retrieved settings; and fully entering theinternet audio video device into standby mode applying the retrievedsettings.
 9. The medium according to claim 8, where retrieving thesettings from the usage pattern database further comprises retrieving aswitch setting corresponding to the next content selection.
 10. Themedium according to claim 8, where setting the Internet audio videodevice for the retrieved settings comprises setting the Internet audiovideo device to receive streaming data identified in the usage patterndatabase.
 11. The medium according to claim 8, further comprisingretrieving an audio volume setting from the usage pattern database andpre-setting the audio volume to a level determined by the usage patterndatabase.
 12. The medium according to claim 8, where the next contentselection comprises a next program in a series of programs.
 13. Themedium according to claim 8, where the next content selection is furtherbased upon a predicted user identified in a user profile database. 14.An Internet audio video device comprising: a remote command receiverconfigured to receive a command to power up the Internet audio videodevice from a standby mode; a memory storing a usage pattern database;an input switch; a programmed processor programmed to: receive a commandto power down the internet audio video device to a standby mode;responsive to the receiving the power down command and prior to fullyentering the standby mode: determine a next anticipated time of power onoperation of the Internet audio video device from the usage patterndatabase and a next content selection corresponding to the nextanticipated time of power on operation of the internet audio videodevice from the usage pattern database; retrieve settings for theInternet audio video device from the usage pattern databasecorresponding to the next content selection and the next anticipatedtime of power on operation of the internet audio video device, whereinthe retrieved settings include an indication of a source of the nextcontent selection, wherein the indication of the source comprises aninternet address for the next content selection; set the internet audiovideo device for the retrieved settings; and fully entering the internetaudio video device into standby mode applying the retrieved settings.15. The device according to claim 14, further comprising a clock. 16.The device according to claim 14, where retrieving the settings from theusage pattern database further comprises retrieving a switch settingcorresponding to the next content selection.
 17. The device according toclaim 14, where the processor is configured to retrieve an audio volumesetting from the usage pattern database and set the audio volume to alevel determined by the usage pattern database so that at the end of theboot process the audio volume is set to a value corresponding the nextcontent selection.
 18. The device according to claim 14, where settingthe Internet audio video device for the retrieved settings comprisessetting the audio video device to receive streaming audio and video froma streaming source.
 19. The device according to claim 14, where settingthe Internet audio video device for the retrieved settings comprisespre-loading a browser with the Internet address.
 20. The deviceaccording to claim 14, where the next content selection comprises a nextprogram in a series of programs.
 21. The method according to claim 14,where the next content selection is further based upon a predicted useridentified in a user profile database.